Our new pony Maddy threw a total wobbly yesterday because we tried to pull her mane. Pulling a mane is something that you do to ponies so that you can plait them for competitions. It isn’t cruel – well not usually, but Maddy hated it! So we had to give up and will need to dose her with sedative from the vet before we try again! I will show you photos of the end results! Meanwhile here is Maddy in a ‘before’ shot.
The lovely handsome bay is in this picture is Diesel and I have been riding him lately for my friend Peter while he was away on holiday watching the Burghley Horse Trials. Lucky Peter! And lucky me because Diesel is a total sweetheart!
In between rides I have been trying to write my new book and also preparing for the upcoming excitement of Horse of the Year Show in Birmingham where I shall be doing a book signing on Saturday and Sunday in the main shopping pavilion – please, please come and get your books signed! It will be the very first chance to buy an autographed copy of my new hardback – The Princess and the Foal, and also any Pony Club Secrets or Rivals books that you are still missing from your collections.
I also have a VERY long shopping list of my own at HOYS including cross country colours (for my daughter), a new showhunter bridle (for her pony Maddie) and new jodhpurs (me!).
Am looking forward to the dressage displays and the showjumping too!! I can’t wait until HOYS….
June 20, 2013
I have received so many wonderful emails and letters from all of you over the past months (make that the past year!) asking me when my next book would be out and what it would be about.
Now, at last, I don’t have to keep umming and ahhing and keeping it secret any longer. Drum roll……..here it is at last! The Princess and the Foal!
The Princess and the Foal is an epic adventure story inspired by the true story of a real-life Arabian Princess.
Her name is Princess Haya and she is the daughter of the late King of Jordan.
When a terrible tragedy strikes at the heart of Haya’s family her world is turned upside down. Devastated by loss, the young Princess becomes withdrawn and grief-stricken. To help his daughter, the wise King gives Haya a very special gift to heal her heart – an orphan foal.
The Princess and the foal develop an incredible bond, one that will take them on an extraordinary journey that culminates in the greatest equestrian contest in all of Arabia.
The novel is inspired by the true childhood story of the real Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, who went on to become an Olympic showjumper and as you’ll discover in the book she is a totally amazing horse rider.
I was lucky enough to do some horse riding myself while I was in Jordan researching the book. That’s me on a lovely chestnut Arabian mare amongst the olive trees in the hills near the Royal Stables in Jordan (above). It was the most amazing adventure to write this novel – which I will tell you more about soon. I cannot wait for it to come out on September 26!